By: Spencer Neff
October 23, 2020

Although Scott McLaughlin has yet to appear on track for a practice, qualifying or race session, his NTT IndyCar Series career is taking shape.

This evening, the three-time Supercars Champion was confirmed to make the switch to IndyCar for the next season.

“I’m so excited for the opportunity to take the next step in my career and compete against some of the best drivers in the world in the INDYCAR SERIES,” said McLaughlin.

“The last four years racing for DJR Team Penske has been amazing. I want to thank every single person on the team, and everyone that has helped me reach this point in my career. I wouldn’t be in position to continue to chase my dream without the hard work of so many people along the way. I’m looking forward to the challenge of joining one of the most iconic motorsports programs of all time – Team Penske’s INDYCAR team. I wish the 2021 season would begin tomorrow.”

Following winter test sessions in Sebring, Florida and Austin, Texas, McLaughlin’s first race was scheduled to be the IndyCar Grand Prix on May 9. However, that race was postponed to July 4.

In September, Team Penske announced McLaughlin would debut at the October 24-25 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

After a six-year partnership with Dick Johnson Racing that netted them 56 wins, 62 poles and six championships, Team Penske will end its time in Supercars.

In addition to the end of that run, Penske’s addition of McLaughlin will be an interesting new chapter for the team in its own right.

For the first time since the 1999 CART FedEx Championship Series, the team will run a rookie in one of its entries. During that time, Tarso Marques and Gonzalo Rodriguez were part of the team.

After scaling back to three cars for 2018, Team Penske will run full-time entries for four drivers. McLaughlin joins two-time IndyCar Series Champion Josef Newgarden, 2016 Champion Simon Pagenaud and 2014 Champion Will Power.

This weekend, Newgarden looks to earn his third championship to cap off 2020. For Scott McLaughlin, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will serve as a major opportunity leading into 2021 and beyond.

Header Image By Team Penske